I value the work that…

I value the work that conservation authorities (CAs) do on the ground to make residents safer and our environment more resilient. There is no one else doing what they do and without this work, Ontario would be a less desirable place to be. The core mandate of conservation authorities has been debated for years. Since 1946 the core mandate has been the programs and services that further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources on a watershed scale. After Hurricane Hazel the mandate was updated to include flood control and pollution was added.

You cannot take the watershed out of the water. CAs cannot manage floodplains if they don’t look back up the watershed and engage in review of proposals that may impact the runoff of water. The quality and quantity of drinking water cannot be managed if CAs are not looking at the watershed and ensuring that the water to support the supply continues to get where it needs to go.

I recommend changing the terminology from programs and services related to the ‘risk of natural hazards’ to programs and services for the ‘protection and management of natural hazards’. The proposed wording in the Act is too vague to provide guidance as to the intent.

I also think that the province should include an additional mandatory program area of ‘conservation of natural resources’ to capture some of the programs and services that have long been part of the core work of CAs, including:
o inventory and monitoring;
o tree planting and forest management;
o natural heritage systems planning;
o habitat restoration and creation;
o invasive species management; and
o stewardship/ outreach activities.